Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has officially been kicked out of his role as Senate Majority Whip, ending weeks of tension between him and the UDA party leadership.
The announcement was made on Tuesday afternoon in a calm but unmistakably tense Senate sitting, where Speaker Amason Kingi confirmed that he had received formal communication from UDA indicating that Khalwale’s removal had already been decided.
“The minutes indicate that a resolution was passed to remove the Senate Majority Whip Boni Khalwale in accordance with Standing Order 225,” Kingi told the chamber.
With that, Khalwale’s tenure ended on the spot, and Bungoma Senator David Wakoli Wafula was declared the new Majority Whip.
Kingi added that he had personally verified the party’s communication as required by Senate rules, noting:
“I can confirm the majority party has effected a change the new office holder with immediate effect is Senator David Wafula.”
Those watching the session noticed something unusual: Khalwale, normally fiery and expressive, sat quietly as the announcement was read. He barely moved, his face set in a tired, resigned expression.
It was the look of a man who already knew what was coming.
The loss is significant. As Majority Whip, Khalwale had been responsible for rallying government senators, enforcing party discipline, and steering key bills through the House. Without the position, his influence in Senate leadership has shrunk dramatically.
UDA Rift That Finally Boiled Over
Khalwale’s ouster didn’t come out of nowhere. Tension between him and UDA had been building since he campaigned alongside opposition figures Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya and DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa in support of Seth Panyako in the Malava by-election.
Panyako lost, UDA’s candidate David Ndakwa won, and Khalwale’s actions sparked open outrage within the ruling party.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei had publicly promised that Khalwale would be “disciplined,” and on Tuesday he wasted no time pushing the message further. After the Senate session, Cherargei told reporters that Khalwale was simply the first in a wider sweep targeting lawmakers who defied their parties in recent by-elections.
“There are UDA MPs and ODM MPs who supported our opponents. Starting tomorrow, we will begin removing them from parliamentary leadership,” he said.
What This Means Moving Forward
Khalwale’s removal adds to a growing sense of unease within UDA ranks as the party tightens internal discipline. It also shifts political dynamics in western Kenya, where Khalwale has been a prominent and polarizing figure.
For now, Senator David Wakoli Wafula steps into the Whip’s role but with a task that won’t be easy: uniting a team that has shown visible cracks in recent weeks.
As for Khalwale, he left the chamber quietly, saying nothing to journalists.
But his silence may not last long especially in a political season where loyalties are shifting, and every move counts.
